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Wednesday, 27 February 2013

I have bitten the bullet and set up a mini shop on Folksy. I have kept it rather small to start with, but plan to add more as and when I create something I deem worth selling. It's a bit nerve racking, but also very exciting. Just hope that someone sees and likes my wares. Eeek!

This weekend, whilst trying out some different ideas with stamps and getting very messy, I decided to do a few pen and ink drawings to ease my frustration. Little can go worng with pen on paper in comparison. I'm certainly no michelangelo, but I think there is a certain charm to what I've produced. Anway, below are the results...

Friday, 22 February 2013

I have managed to combine two of the things I love into one project, printing and knitting. I have been practising with different ideas and settled on the below print to execute for real. I did this by making my own stamps and masking of areas of the paper to leave me with a heart shaped print. Had a bit of a misprint in the corner where there are 2 white squares, but I kind of like it!

Below are some other ideas that I would like to try out either with stamps or lino cuts.

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

I have just been onto Folksy for a general browsing and whilst I was there searched for lino prints. Well, the things you can achieve with lino are amazing. I've been left feeling inspired, but slightly deflated about my efforts...

For christmas I bought James a stamp set so that he could make cards for people for birthdays etc..., but it could easily have been a gift for myself as I could not stop imagining what pictures could be made from the stamps in the kit. I must resist using it (too much) though as it is for James and not for me. It has got me to thinking about how I could make my own stamps however. I have had a piece of lino tucked away in a drawer for sometime now and thought now's as good a time as any to dig it out and have a go. Using a sketch I uncovered the other day I drew out my image onto the lino and got cutting...

I did (what I regard to be) a fairly successful print using just the outline. I added a little monogram of my initials to the corner. I thought that this may make it look a bit oriental. Maybe if I printed that bit in red it would stand out more!

I really like my first attempt, but thought I may as well push this a bit further, so I cut a stencil of the overall shape and sponged some paint through it onto some cartridge paper, which I had just stamped with the end of a cork.

Once this background had dried fully I stamped the outline on, the result of which is pictured at the top of this post.

I have stumbled across this lovely little site this morning 'on to baby' and had a go at one of their free printables. Below is the design I have settled upon for Evans room. I think this looks good for a kids or adults room!

Sunday, 17 February 2013

Right, so I have designed a knitting pattern to follow. I don't know if I have done a very good job, as I have not followed it myself. I just tend to follow the colourful knitting charts that I draw out as it's easier. If anyone fancies having a go then please do let me know if it reads ok or if you need any help!

What a lucky boy! Evan gets to wear all of my hand made creations, whether he likes it or not. Today he is sporting some delightful handmade trousers, which were made from the sleeves of a cardigan which I accidently felted. His little neckerchief is a square of fabrc from an old dress I cut up. Muslin squares are so expensive!

I had a bit of clear out yesterday of my footstool in the living room (this is where I keep all sorts of sketch books, stationery and general clutter). It gets a bit busy in there and when it starts to get a difficult to get the lid back on I know it's time to do something! I discovered all sorts of randomness that I had completely forgotten about. I thought that I would share the items that interested me most.

A beaded bee, which is a remnant from when I used to bead almost obsessively.

A tag from a recent baby gift sent from relatives in America. I love this, it looks so 1950's.

A playing card from a deck that I designed a couple of christmasses ago. This one was a missprint, so has just been hanging around.

Some little sketches that I did from some chinese figures of Mum and Dads before they moved away. I think they may translate well as an idea for a lino cut.

Some sketches of a little teapot I have of Mums with a side pouring handle. I was just practicing at drawing quickly and without looking at the paper until I had finished. I really like how they have turned out.

Friday, 15 February 2013

Evan and I have just been on a walk to the shops to get us out of the house and to buy stuff for dinner. I did the usual round of the charity shops (well, it would be rude not to) and look what I found! 5 and a half metres of Secret Garden fabric by Charles Collier for Liberty of London. A total cost of £5 means that it was less than £1 a metre. I'm not sure what I am going to do with it yet, but I'm thinking that I could make a dress and sell the rest as it's currently selling for about £15 a metre on ebay. I loves a bargain!

I also tried taking some nice pictures of the boy earlier, but he was having none of it. Sensible little man!